Wreck Diving Charters
The NSW Central Coast has quite a few wrecks spread out along the length of the coast. Many of these wrecks had a very illustrious career, whilst some had a very hard life. The majority of wrecks met their demise by misfortune. To this end, they have become a great source of adventure and have re birthed as fish habitats, where fish have gathered and produced great fish aggregation areas for fishos.
We regularly dive local wrecks like the Valiant, which lies in 27 metres of water off Barrenjoey. The wreck of the Hall Caine which lays in 54 metres of water off Killcare, then there is the Galava which lies in 51 metres off Terrigal, whilst the remains of the Commonwealth lays in 43 metres off Forrester’s and the Kiama is in 42 metres off the Entrance.
Further north the Nerong lies in 44 metres off Norah Head along with the Patersen at 10 metres just off Jenny Dixon beach. A little tug called the Advance lies in 47 metres off Catherine Hill bay.
Most of these wrecks as you can see, are in very deep water or have become wreck sites that resemble junk piles. To this end the Central Coast now has its very own ex naval warship sunk as an artificial reef that has become a very exciting, new dive site-
The HMAS Adelaide is a short five-minute run from the boat. As an artificial reef you will be able to see the genesis of a reef with juvenile fish seeking hiding places, with larger fish seeking ambush hideouts and predators patrolling the edge of visibility.
You can dive and explore the Ex HMAS Adelaide with us, every day of the week.
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ZERO-ONE BELOW: The Final Voyage
The SS Paterson was another member of the small coastal freighters that plied their trade along the NSW coastline, between Newcastle and Sydney.
On the 11th of June 1951, the SS Paterson set sail from Cabbage Tree Bay, sprung a leak and sank rather dramatically and promptly in only 10 metres of water, not 300 metres away from the wharf.
Built in Sydney in 1920 and being a wooden steamer, she soon began to disintegrate after her demise, her 148-foot length has all but disappeared.
On 14 April 1888 on a voyage, from Newcastle to Sydney, the 350 ton barquentine "Speedwell" in ballast at the time, was wrecked upon a flat rock between Bird Island and Norah Head- one of the many victims of the notorious “Bully Nugget Reef” commonly called Bull Reef.
The Speedwell came under the shelter of Norah Head during a storm on the 14th of April 1884 and struck the Bull reef, mortally wounding the ship.
She soon took on water and sank very quickly, fortunately, being so close to shore the crew of ten, all escaped.
Captain Sampson believed that the sailing ship was caught by a strong whirlpool effect, which swept the hull broadside onto the rocky reef, scattering the wreckage over a wide area, in fairly shallow water.
A large anchor and similar items lay in shallow water, on the north western edge of the reef.
Depth ranges 8 to 14 metres
The SS Kiama a 446-ton, collier may not have been the prettiest of colliers but, as a workhorse plying her trade almost by clockwork along the coast, on its regular journey between Newcastle and Sydney, she was very profitable and reliable for her owners.
The fate of the SS Kiama was sealed in 1951 when she was caught in a storm off the Entrance Bommie, the ships crew tried desperately to save the vessel to no avail.
The tragedy of the Kiama was a blow to several families of the coast as the crew were all well known locals.
To the crew, after the Kiama capsized, having to float off the coast so close to shore but yet so far, must have been extremely difficult to endure.
The Kiama lays in 45 metres of water. The most prominent feature is the engine laying off to the port side and the large boiler.
This is a dive for experienced deep divers and some artefacts can still be found.
The "Galava" built in 1906 in Workington, United Kingdom, was a steel screw steamer of 413 tons, 43m in length and powered by a compound engine. This small "60 Miler" collier plied its trade between Sydney and Catherine Hill Bay, on a fairly regular schedule.
On the 9th of February 1927, the vessel left Catherine Hill Bay wharf heading south, when the crew noticed water leaking into the forward holds.
The water came in so quickly, the crew didn't even have time to really save the vessel.
The sinking of the Galava was a tragic incident0- Seven of the twelve crew members lost their lives, only three nautical miles offshore of Terrigal.
Depth is 50+ metres and suitable for experienced divers only.
The coastal collier that sank in September 1917 is located three nautical miles off Norah Head Lighthouse on the sand. This wreck attracts a multitude of fish life and Wobbegong’s lounge everywhere.
Depth ranges from 43 to 46 metres.
This dive is for experienced Deep 45/50,Technical divers, as fishing lines; sinkers and nets sometimes cover the wreck from stem to stern.
The ex HMAS Adelaide site is closed until further notice.
Central Coast run two groups of divers each day weather permitting.
Boat returns to shore, between dives.
Group 1 - 08:00 am and 11:00 am
Group 2 - 09:30 am and 12:30 pm
The ex-HMAS Adelaide is one of the many dive sites we offer! You can join the dive crew as they head out on a morning boat dive to any one, of the many scheduled dive sites, on offer.
- Boat dives depart from Terrigal Haven boat ramp, next to the "Haven kiosk"
- Rental equipment is not included.
- Please arrange 24 hours prior to departure
- Book online 24/7
- Bookings are essential.
NOTE: You must be Advanced or Deep Certified to dive the ex-HMAS Adelaide.
NOTE: Before booking any dives with us, please read our Terms and Conditions including Cancellation Policy.
See below for any additional gear that you may require.
Please note that you must be Nitrox certified in order to hire our Nitrox cylinders.